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Airbus A350-1000 now suitable for 480 Passengers

Air India will buy Airbus A350 aircraft for international operations, with the plane arriving in March 2023-24.

A350-1000 has been cleared by EASA for an increase in maximum accommodation to 480 seats (previously 440 seats).

According to Flight global the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also given type certification for the A319neo powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.

Modifications necessary for the 480-seat version: 10-abreast layout and modified exits on all 4 pairs of doors. According to EASA, possible configurations for this A350-1000 version: up to 120-124 seats in the forward cabin, 170-180 seats in the central cabin, 180-190 seats in the aft cabin. As per EASA, if the maximum seating exceeds 400, the number of cabin crew members required increases to 9, and a 3rd cabin crew must be stationed at each installed pair of Type-A+ exits. Airbus has used these modified exits to also increase the maximum accommodation of the A330-900 to 460 seats.

Following EASA’s type certification for A319neo with CFM International Leap-1A engines given in late 2018, now it has approved type certification for PW1100G-powered A319neos. According to Airbus, it flew around 240 hours across 90 sorties to certificate the Pratt-powered variant since the first flight on 25 April. Since certification in July, two ACJ319neo corporate jets have been delivered. Airbus, which has firm orders for 36 A319neos, will begin deliveries to airlines in 2020.

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As per the EASA reports An aircraft must be able to be evacuated within 90 seconds in an emergency. That is why airlines cannot install infinite seats: a maximum number of passengers has been set for each type. EASA now allows 480 passengers in the A350-1000. By using ‘Type A +’ outputs, Airbus was previously able to increase the maximum capacity of the A330-900 to 460 passengers. The Filipino company Cebu Pacific will actually put so many seats in the A330-900, in an all-Economy configuration with a 3-3-3 setup. As far as we know, only price-fighter French Bee wants to put 480 passengers in an A350-1000. But now that there is that possibility, the aircraft also becomes a more attractive option for airlines that are still looking for a successor to their Airbus A380s, Boeing 747s or 777s. For example, Air France could in the future replace its Boeing 777-300ERs with 468 seats used for popular holiday destinations with A350-1000s with the same number of seats. This requires a tight 3-4-3 configuration in Economy Class.

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Aerospace

India is in talks with Nigeria regarding the export of its single-engine Tejas and Prachand helicopter

Philippines in Talks to Procure India's LCH Prachand Helicopter

India is actively exploring its defense market and making audacious moves to establish itself as a significant player in targeting the African defense market to sell Tejas and Prachand.

According to the sources, Nigeria, in negotiations to purchase Indian aircraft such as the LCA Tejas and LCH Prachand, has recently opted to acquire the M-346FA light fighter-trainer aircraft from Italy. This decision comes after expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the JF-17 Thunder jets, signaling a shift away from acquiring additional JF-17s.

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India is actively challenging Russia and China’s long-standing dominance in Africa, focusing on the lucrative market. While the India-Nigeria connection is longstanding, it’s rapidly evolving. In the fiscal year 2021-22, India emerged as Nigeria’s largest trading partner.

In March 2024, India intensified efforts to explore potential exports. A defense industry delegation visited Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, signaling India’s interest in exporting its single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Building the LCA Tejas Mark 2 prototype could take longer than expected.

Recent reports suggest Nigeria is considering acquiring 15 fighter jets to replace its aging Chengdu F-7NI fleet, with India emerging as a leading supplier, proposing its indigenous Tejas fighter jet.

The HAL Tejas is an advanced Indian multirole combat aircraft featuring a delta wing design, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It serves as a pivotal asset for air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions, tailored to excel in high-threat scenarios. With nearly 40 initial variants already inducted, the Tejas stands as a cornerstone of the IAF’s operational capabilities.

Comparison of the Tejas Mark1 vs korean T-50 Golden eagle

Previously, Nigeria had explored Indian-built options such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand,’ Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) ‘Dhruv.’

The Prachand helicopter, designed for battlefield deployment as an attack helicopter, stands out with its advanced weaponry and avionics. Positioned to compete with helicopters like the Apache, Turkish T129, and the European Tiger, Prachand emphasizes India’s capability to produce unique and technologically advanced military assets.

Beyond military hardware, India’s strategic move includes establishing a local currency settlement system with Nigeria, a development of notable economic significance forged in May 2024.